Automatic speed-regulator for turbines.



F. P. HEITMAN.

AUTOMATIC SPEED REGULATOR FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 6, 1910.

1,031,181. Patented July 2,1912.

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tfkQwwv FRED P. HEITMAN, 0F GENOA, NEVADA.

AUTOMATIC SPEED-REGULATOR FOR IU'RBIN'ES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed December 6, 1910. Serial No. 595,877.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRED l. I'IEITMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Genoa, in the county of Douglas and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Impro ements in Automatic Speed- Re-gulators for Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for retaining the speed of a turbine or water propelled wheel constant.

An important object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the above character, which is automatic and positive in its operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side view of a turb'ne and my improved speed controlling apparatus employed in connection therewith, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a lever forming a portion of my apparatus.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, a turbine of any well known or preferred type is shown, comprising a casing 1, which is disposed upon a foundation \Vithin the easing 1 is disposed a rotary wheel 3, having an axle i which is journaled through portions of the casing 1. The wheel 3 carries at its periphery a plurality of spaced buckets 5, which are attached to the wheel in any manner. The casing 1 is provided upon one side thereof and near its lower end with a screw threaded opening 6 for receiving a nipple 7. This nipple extends within the casing 1 near the lower side of the wheel 3, to conduct a fluid, such as water, against the buckets 5, whereby the rotation of the wheel 3 is cffected. The nipple 7 is detachably connected with a valve structure 8, which in turn is connected with a pipe section 9. The pipe section 9 has connection with a supply pipe or main 10, as shown. From the description of the above referred to parts, it is obvious that when the valve structure 8 is opened the fluid will discharge from the nipple 7 and impinge against the buckets 5 to effect a rotation of the wheel 3.

Disposed to one side of and near the easing 1, is a vertically disposed casting 11, which is fixedly mounted upon a foundation hearlngs 12. This casting comprises an upstanding arm 13, which is provided at its upper end with a pair of oppositely extending knifebearings 14. An oscillatory lever 15 is provided, which is adapted to operate within an opening 16 formed through the foundation 2. This oscillatory lever may preferably carry a shield or guard 17, to prevent thesplashing of the fluid through the opening 16. The inner end of the oscillatory lever 15 is bifurcated for the reception of a deflector 18, which has its upper portion formed V-shaped in horizontal cross-section, as shown. The deflector 18 is angul-arly adjustably mounted within the bifurcated inner end of the oscillatory lever 15, and may be clamped in adjustment at different angles, by means of a clamping bolt 20. The outer end of the oscillatory lever 15 is forked as clearly shown in Fig. 2, such forked portion comprising a pair of cars 21 and 22. The cars 21 and 22 are provided with approximately triangular openings 93 for the reception of the knife-bearings 14. As illustrated in Fig 1, the sharp edges of these knife-bearings engage the apexes of the openings 23. The function of the knife- 14 is to reduce to the smallest possible amount the friction caused by the movement of the oscillatory lever 15. The car 22 carries an arm 24,. which may preferably be cast integral with the car. The arm 24: has its outer end bifurcated as shown, which is adapted to receive the lower end of a vertically disposed shaft 25, having pivotal connection with the arm 24:, as shown at 26. The shaft 25 is mounted through aportion 27 of the casting 11, so that this shaft is capable of moving freely longitudinally but does not rotate or have any perceptible lateral movements. The shaft 25 carries a centrifugal governor, comprising a pair of balls 28, with which are pivotally connected rods 29 and 30. The lower ends of the rods 30 are pivotally connected with a casting 31, as shown at 32, it being understood that these rods are capable of oscillating only in vertical planes. The casting 31 is loosely mounted upon shaft 25 and is rigidly connected with a bevel gear 33 which in turn is loosely mounted upon the shaft 25. The bevel gear 33 and casting 31 are free to rotate upon the shaft 25 and the shaft 25 is capable of moving longitudinally without effecting the movement of said bevel gear and casting. The upper ends of the rods 29 are pivotally connected with a second casting 34, which is disposed upon. the shaft. The casting 34 is free to revolve upon the shaft 25, but is normally prevented from moving longitudinally thereof by collars 35, held in place by nuts 36. By proper manipulation of the nuts 36 the casting 34 may be moved longitudinally of the shaft 25, and locked against further movement in its new position. The centrifugal governor is operated synchronously by the wheel 3 through a shaft 37, which is journaled through bearings 38 and 39, supported respectively by the casting l1 and the casing 1, as shown. This shaft 37 carries at its free ends bevel gears 40 and 41. The bevel gear 40 engages the bevel gear 33 and the bevel gear 41 engages a bevel gear 42, which is fast upon the shaft 4. In the operation of the machine, the fluid, such as water, is fed through the nipple 7 whereby such fluid in its travel impinges against the bucket-s 5 to cause the wheel 3 to revolve. As shown in Fig. 1, the balls 28 are in their upper innermost position, and are normally held in such position by the weight of the oscillatory lever 15. This lever, which is pivoted as shown, is much heavier than the balls 28, whereby such lever serves as a resistance to be overcome by the balls 28 in their outward movement due to centrifugal force. When the wheel 3 exceeds its speed limit, the balls 28 being acted upon by centrifugal force travel outwardly, whereby the shaft 25 is forced downwardly and the inner end of the oscillatory lever 15 is raised. The deflector 18 is accordingly moved into the path of travel of the fluid, whereby such fluid is deflected laterally and prevented from impinging against the buckets 5. This deflection of the fluid will, of course, cause the speed of rotation of the Wheel to decrease until its desired'speed is again reached. The opof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim r In a device of the character described, a turbine comprising a casing and a rotary wheel therein, a supply pipe extending through the casing to deliver water upon the wheel, a swinging lever extending through an opening in the casing below the discharge end of the supply pipe, a deflector ang'ularly adjust-ably mounted upon the inner end of the swinging lever in said casing,

said swinging lever having its outer end forked for providing spaced heads having substantially triangular openings formed therethrough, a lever attached to one head,

fixed bearings substantially triangular in cross-section disposed in said openings, a fixed upright, a longitudinally movable shaft extending therethrough having connection at its lower end with the second named lever, and a governor to actuate the shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' FRED P. vI-IEITMAN. Witnesses:

NIELS P. MoRRIsoN, HEINRICH F. W. THRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G. 

